"Well I'm waiting."

"Mhmm..." Sam stared at the computer screen, scrolling through newspaper articles. "That's a really bad picture."

"Why? Because it proves that you're a philanderer?" Ainsley snapped.

"Ouch. No because it doesn't show the woman's face."

"I don't need a face. Well I do when I want to go kick the shit out of her."

"That picture's pretty old."

"Then why did you freak out like you did?"

"I didn't freak out."

"You paled."

"I thought it was someone else." Sam said, then paused. "Wait that didn't come out the way I wanted it to."

"Who is she?" Ainsley asked.

"Laurie."

"The hooker?"

"Call girl, but yes."

"Why would someone print an old picture of you and a girl that you haven't seen in almost twenty years? Unless... unless you have seen in her and you're cheating on me."

"Ainsley, what the hell?"

"Well I mean, I'm not the best wife. Men get bored when their wives get older."

"Okay... she's about the same age as you now so that wouldn't make any sense. You're the perfect wife and I dunno why someone would print an old picture of me and a hooker." Sam said.

"Unless they wanted to split us up." Ainsley mumbled. "I mean, a picture of my husband and another woman would surely piss me off."

Sam's head snapped up as they both turned and looked at each other.

-------------------TWW--------------

"Dammit!" Ryan kicked the wall and Gracie smirked.

"A picture that's nearly 20 years old is not going to split my parents up." she said.

"I didn't ask for your opinion." Ryan snarled.

"I want to talk to my parents."

Ryan laughed and shook his head.

"No. I'm not stupid."

"What do you mean?"

"So that when you call, the FBI traces the number to me? I don't think so."

"Who's your spy?" Gracie asked.

"What?"

"Your spy. You obviously know what's going on over at the White House. So who is it?"

Ryan stayed silent.

"It's not Josh." Gracie said.

"No."

"Not CJ, Donna, Toby, or Amanda."

"Who?"

"Chief of Staff, VP's wife, Communications Director, Press Secretary."

"No."

"Who?"

"No one you know." Ryan said.

"Can I know?"

"Her name is Maria Stokes."

"Really?"

"Yes. She works with the FBI as an agent and is currently patrolling the White House, guarding your parents."

"You got an FBI agent to stalk my parents?"

"She wasn't always an agent."

"How do you know her?"

"What is this? Twenty questions?" Ryan snapped.

"No. I'm just a curious person."

"Curiosity killed the cat."

"Are you going to kill me?"

"I haven't decided yet. You're annoying so it's a possibility."

"Don't you want my mom to think you're a good father? My dad never threatens me with murder." Gracie said. "So tell me about Maria."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"Shut up."

"Not until you tell me." Gracie smirked.

"Maria was... a fan of your father's when he was the Deputy Communications Director." Ryan finally said.

"You don't become an FBI agent for thinking Sam Seaborn is good looking."

"She was a detective in LA. A damn good one too. That's why the FBI wanted her. Shame she turned against them."

---------------TWW-------------

Sam was walking through the halls of the Residence when he came upon Gracie's room and saw Ainsley was sitting on the bed. He walked in and quietly closed the door behind him, causing Ainsley to look up.

"It's changed so much in here in the past four years." she said, her voice cracking. Sam nodded, not trusting himself to talk. He walked over and sat down next to Ainsley, his eyes wandering around the room.

"I don't think the White House has ever gotten so many paint jobs. This room at least."

"Pink, blue, yellow, purple..."

"Black for a small period of time." Sam added. He glanced sideways at Ainsley and saw her lower lip quiver. "Ainse..."

"I miss her so much." she whispered, tears trailing down her cheeks. Sam pulled her into a hug and she cried into his chest. "I know that I haven't acted like it but I've just tried to ignore it and pretend she's at a camp or my mom's or something, that she's not missing and we might not ever see her again."

"We will honey. I promise." Sam kissed the top of Ainsley's head and held her tighter.

"I was walking around and I heard people talking. I've watched the news. Everyone's saying that she might be dead."

"She's not Ainsley. I know she's not."

"I just don't understand why Sam."

"I don't either."

-------------------TWW---------------

Gracie was woken up by the door opening quietly, then shutting.

"Mom? Dad?"

For a minute, she forgot she had been stuck with Ryan but it wasn't Ainsley or Sam that answered her.

"About time I got to meet you."

The light turned on and Gracie blinked, trying to get her blue eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness.

"You must be Maria."

"You're pretty smart for a little girl."

"I'm going to be fifteen in a few weeks." Gracie said.

"Possibly." Maria said. "You look nothing like your mother. Totally Sam."

"Thanks."

"I like your dad. He's a nice guy."

"Yeah I've heard."

"You're mother on the other hand..."

"My mom's great."

"Yeah I suppose but she's not made for your dad."

"I dunno. Have you seen them together?"

"Yes."

"Then you know that they go hand in hand." Gracie said. Maria forced a smile onto her face and walked over to the window.

"Ryan's been stupid with you." she murmured. "He's too soft around you."

"Well I'm not exactly in boot camp."

Maria nodded and put her hands on her hips, then turned around.

"They miss you a lot."

"I miss them a lot."

"You want to see them?"

"Ryan won't let that happen."

"If you do what I say, I'll let you see your father."

"I don't know how to split my parents up. And even if I did, I wouldn't do it. There's no way that they will ever leave each other." Gracie said. "Unless one of them dies, they're together for life."

"That could be arranged." Maria said, squatting down so she was eye level with Gracie. "If you are a good kid, I'll talk to Ryan about letting you get out of here. If not, your mom is going to have a few problems."

"Ryan wants her."

"I don't care what Ryan wants. I only care about what I want."

"Which is my father."

"Exactly. I know what goes on in that White House. I've been assigned to watch your parents. At any time, I could take one of them out and I can bet you that it will be your mother. But it all depends on you. Okay Gracie?"

"So my mom's life depends on me."

"Yep." Maria nodded. "You're not to talk back to me or Ryan. No more of this smart ass shit. You will only speak when spoken too. You will stay in here unless you're asked to come out. You will do chores. Gee Gracie, I guess you are in a boot camp now."